A woman lifts the opening of a tent and smiles, as a Zoo staff member squats next to her holding a torch.

Zoo Snooze Overnight Camp

Year levels

Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10

Cost

$4,486 for up to 24 participants and up to 2 adults. Additional students are $185 each and additional adults are $204 each.

Availability

Monday to Wednesday nights during school terms (excluding winter months June - August)

Student Ratio

Maximum of 28 students with 2 adults

Sleep overnight at Melbourne Zoo!

Program description

Zoo Snooze provides school and community groups with a unique overnight educational experience at Melbourne Zoo. 

Students will be engaged in a “survival camp”, where they will get to know the animals of the Zoo as they have never known them before. They will learn their stories, their secrets and the adaptations that allow them to survive. 

Throughout their adventures, students will develop their own survival instincts as they work together in “tribes” to out-smart, out-eat and out-play the challenges that Melbourne Zoo presents after dark. 

Program sequence

Before your visit

Connect  

Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit  

During your visit

Connect and Understand  

Arrive at Melbourne Zoo at 6:00pm and enjoy dinner before heading out in to the Zoo for your night-time ZooVivor adventure. After a good night's sleep under the stars it's up early for breakfast and a special animal encounter, before the experience concludes at 9am.

You’re then welcome to stay on and enjoy Melbourne Zoo during the daylight hours. Check out your Teaching Guide for other ideas of what to do at the zoo.  

After your visit

Understand  

Use activities in the Teaching Guide to deepen students’ learning back at school.  

Act  

Use the Teaching Guide to enable students to master their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.  

What is included?

  • Night tour
  • Dinner, supper, breakfast
  • Camp activities
  • General admission to the Zoo the following day
  • Tents in secure site (mattresses also supplied)

Teachers will be required to allocate students into the supplied four-person tents (2.6m x 2.6m) before they arrive for their camp.

What to bring

  • Sleeping bag
  • Pillow
  • Warm clothes
  • Torch 
  • A sense of adventure!

Program resources

Zoo Map 
Zoo Snooze Overnight Camp Teaching Guide *coming soon*

Learning outcomes

Zoo Snooze has been designed to align with the Victorian Curriculum and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your group.

Plan your excursion

Zoo Snooze Overnight Camp is an outdoor all-weather program; the students will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection. 

School groups will enter Melbourne Zoo via the Rail Gate entrance. Organising teachers please check in with our Admissions team upon arrival. More Information. 

Book your education experience

Fill out an online form to request a booking for your zoo education experience

Request zoo excursion

You will need to know the following to book your zoo excursion or online workshop:

  • Education program of your choice (if applicable)
  • Preferred date
  • School name and address
  • Contact details of organising teacher
  • Number of students/classes and their year level